For instance, while women tend to be much more afraid of being a victim of crime, men are actually slightly more likely than women to be victims of "an offence against the person", which includes robberies, assaults and murder.

For women, the evidence shows that for physical and sexual violence the greatest threat lies at home and at the hands of someone they know - a family member, partner or an ex - rather than from a stranger in the street.

Yet many people still fear they wouldn't know what to do if they found themselves facing a violent attacker. Should you scream, or go along with their demands? Flee or fight back?

612 ABC Brisbane spoke to the Queensland Police Senior Sergeant Kim Jackson, from the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch, who suggested weighing up three key factors if you're confronted by someone aggressive and potentially violent.

"The first is the perceived motivations of the attack: is it a bag snatch, is it a rape, is another type of physical assault?

"The second is your own personal strengths. Are you able to run as fast as you can? Are you able to physically fight back, if that's an option? Can you negotiate?

"The third thing is environmental: the people, places, things that we could use to protect ourselves, what's around us at that point in time."

If you think someone just wants to rob you, property is always worth less than you are.

And there are no right or wrong answers about how to respond to an unexpected attack.

"Because every situation is different, I wouldn't rule out anything, because anything could potentially work," Senior Sergeant Jackson said.

"I am aware of really creative things that have worked, such as vomiting, faking a mental illness, pretending to have a heart attack or epileptic fit, really creative things that can distract or deter an attack from happening. As well as [more common responses such as] running away, negotiating or screaming."

Screaming or shouting can be a particularly effective tactic, as it can spook many would-be attackers - but if possible, don't get scared, get angry.

"An offender targets vulnerability. If someone is screaming, their screams should be really depicting their anger and the outrage of what's happening, rather than a victim-like high-pitched scream."

Paying attention to your surroundings can make a crucial difference not only in reducing your exposure to an attack in public, but also in being able to respond quickly if anything does happen.

Zoning out while listening to loud music, or being tunnel-visioned while texting on your phone, can make you more vulnerable not only to attack, but also to having an accident with another person or traffic.

However, if you do find yourself in an uncomfortable situation like walking to your car at night, a better use of your mobile phone can be to call a friend and describing to them where you are and what you can see until you feel safe again.

For anyone experiencing aggressive behaviour from someone they know, Senior Sergeant Jackson recommends being as assertive in your communication as possible, and never hesitating to seek help - including calling the police - if you're afraid.

"So making sure they're very assertive as far as what behaviour's not acceptable, and escalating that if they need to, by leaving if the situation is getting out of control, or asking the person who they think might become an offender to leave. And if they don't leave, taking some more drastic action such as running away, calling police or physically defending themselves if it comes to that."

For help with domestic and family violence, you can call:

* DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811 (24 hours, 7 days a week). Note: This number is not recorded on your phone bill.

* Queensland Police run free personal safety workshops, which provide attendees with an awareness of safety risks and practical ways to their safety. They run from 30 to 90 minutes and are tailored to each group that attends. Contact your local police station and ask for your District Crime Prevention Coordinator.

THE FACTS ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY

Girls aged 15 to 19 are the most common victims of "offences against the person", with younger girls 10 to 14 not far behind. This includes sexual as well as physical assaults.

But teen boys and young men are also at higher risk than other males, with their main period of being most vulnerable being in their mid-teens to late 20s.

Alcohol and drugs often contribute to those assaults against younger people.

While it's important to teach children about stranger danger, it is a much smaller risk than people usually think, with most sexual assaults committed by someone known to the child - most commonly another family member.

Women aged 55-plus are the least victimised group for offences against the person.

For women and men, once you're 19 or above, the older you get, the more your risk of being a victim of this kind of personal crime falls.